lohda



No. 626,789. Patented lune l3, I899. n. a. LDHDA.

FIFTH WHEEL.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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" m" 1 nlmllln tf iii u '"lumw will" HIEIII E v 1 115m ll 1 "I ll 2| lllllllllllllllllllllllllll ll 4% @WM 1 MM 6mm Patented lune l3, l899. R. G. LOHDA.

FIFTH WHEEL.

(Application filed Max- 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets8heet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT om t.

ROBERT G. LOHDA, OF FO RT ATKINSON, TVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTHWESTERN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,789, da d 3 111 6 13,1899- Application filed March 2,1899. Serial No. 707,463. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT G. LOHDA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth -Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved fifth-wheel for vehicles, the construction and advantages of which will behereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the fifthwheel and so much of the attendant parts as is necessary to a clear understanding of the invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation; and Fig. 3, a perspective view, the parts being shown detached and separated.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong construction of the fifth-wheel, the parts of which can be readily and easily assembled.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the front axle, and B the belly, and O is a suitable metallic bar or plate carried upon the upper face of the belly, these parts being secured and firmly bound together by suitable clips D, three being employed in the form illustrated.

To each end of the plate or bar 0 there is rigidly affixed a curved shoe or bearing-plate E, forming the lower members of the wheel. To the middle clip D, at its lower end, there is attached an arm F, which extends rearwardly of the axle and is provided with a vertical opening G. (See Fig. 3.)

To the rear of the belly, in line with the intermediate clip and directly above the arm F, there is secured a plate or member H, provided with a rearwardly-extending portion 1, which'is so shaped as to form a vertical bearing or support for the king-bolt passing through it. In the construction shown the plate or-member H is composed of a single piece of metal bent to form,

J indicates the bolster, having a metallic plate K secured upon its under face.

The upper segment L of the fifth-wheel is made in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. It comprises a single piece of metal.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the outer ends of the segment L'bear directly against the under face of the plate K and are connected thereto and to the bolster J by suitable bolts M. The central portion of the segment is provided with an upstanding arm N, which fits against the rear face of the bolster and is connected to it by a bolt 0. The arms of the segment as they extend rear- Wardly from the member N are straight for a short distance and diverge slightly from each other, and to these straight portions are secured the perches or reaches P.

At the point where the straight members of the upper segment come together there is formed an opening Q, designed to receive the king-bolt R, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with an offset at its upperend and a horizontal opening S,extending therethrough. When the king-bolt is in position, opening S comes in alinement with the horizontal opening in the arm or member N, and the bolt 0, which passes through the bolster, also passes through these two openings and firmly holds the king-bolt in position against any vertical movement.

To more securely connect the perches with the axle and bolster, I provide a T- shaped member or brace comprising an arm T, having a head Uwitha vertical opening therein, and a plate V, also provided with openings W in each end, said openings W coming in alinement with the bolts X, which pass down through the upper segment L and through the perches, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

The head U when the parts are assembled passes in between the upper face of the arm F and the lower edge of the projection I of member H, the king-bolt passing down through opening Q, member 1, opening in head U, and opening G. lower end to assist in holding the parts in position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the construction is quite simple,while at the same time it affords a rigid connection between the front axle and the other portions of the running-gear.

By making the upper segment Lin the form illustrated the bolster and perches are directly and rigidly connected, and by the employment of the brace or member comprising A nut Z is screwed upon the l openings Q and the head U, the main wear coming on the member I.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- axle and belly; a clip securing said parts together; an arm F carried at the lower end of the clip and provided with a rearward extension; segments carried by the belly; a bolster; an upper segment connected to the segment; a bearing member I-I secured to the belly; anda king-bolt passing down through the upper segment, the bearing H and the 9 rearward extension of the arm F, subs-tam;

tially as described.

a journal for the king-bolt also carried by said axle; an upper segment; a bolster connected 5 to said upper segment; and a king-bolt passing through the upper segment and the journal-bearing, said bolt being connected to the bolster and upper segment, substantially as 5 described.

3. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination of an axle; lower bearing-segments carried thereby; an upper segment L com-i posed of a single piece of metal bent to form; a bolster connected to said upper segment at its ends and center; and a king-bolt securing the parts together, substantially as described. 1 4. An upper bearing segment for fifth- Wheels, comprising a single piece of metal bent to form and provided with means for attachi'ng the ends and center thereof to the bolster, substantially as described.

5. In a fifth-wheel, the combination of an axle; a belly mounted thereon; lower bearing-segmcnts mounted upon the belly; a member II connected to the belly; an arm F provided with a rearward extension in line with bolster at its outer ends and at a point intermediate thereof; perches connected to said said member H; a bolster an upper segment connected to said bolster at its ends and at a point intermediate thereof; perches connected to said upper segment; a member comprising plateVadapted to be secured to the under face of the perches, and a forwardly-extending arm T provided with a head U adapted to pass in between the lower face of member H and the upper face of the arm F a king-bolt 1 arranged to pass through the upper segment .and through the journal-bearing of the mem- 1. In a fifth-wheel, the combination of an ber H and opening in the arm F; and means for securing the king-bolt in position.

6. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination of a lower bearing-face; a bolster; an

upper segment L provided with an upstanding arm N; a king-bolt provided with an offset head, said bolt being adapted to pass down through the upper segment; and a bolt 0 arranged to secure the bolster, the arm N, and the head of the king-bolt together.

7. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination with an axle; a belly mounted thereon;

.: a plate 0 resting upon the upper face of the belly and carrying at its ends bearing-segments E; clips D passing about the axle, belly, and plate, securing the same together; an arm F provided with a rearward extension secured to the lower end of the central clip D; a mem- 'ber H provided with a bearing secu red to the rearward face of the belly, in line with the rearward-extension of the arm F; a bolster J I- a segment L provided with a central upstanding arm N adapted to bear against the rear face of the bolster; perches connected to said segment L; abrace extending from said perches forwardly etween the member II and the arm F; a king-bolt adapted to pass down through the upper segment L, member H, the forwardly-extending brace and arm F; and a bolt passing through the bolster, upstanding arm N, and king-bolt, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT G. LOHDA.

lVitnesses:

L. B. CASWELL, J. F. SCHREME 

